Battle of Nesbit Moor (1355)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Nesbit Moor was an engagement fought in August ,1355 between forces of the Kingdom of Scotland
and the Kingdom of England
.
from English captivity. The English pre-emptively raided into Scotland, and burnt the lands of Patrick V, Earl of March.
, with their contingents, supplemented by a force of sixty French knights marched to the Merse
in August. Douglas sent Sir William Ramsay of Dalhousie, and a force of men to despoliate and raid the country around Norham Castle
, captained by Sir Thomas Grey of Heaton. Douglas' ploy was to encourage Grey into an ambush.
Ramsay called on Grey and his garrison to come out of the castle and fight them. Grey's suspicious of other marauding Scots forces sent scouts to look for evidence of them, but kept behind the stout walls of the castle. Ramsay's men burnt the village, and drove off the chattels and beasts. The scouts returned with nothing to report and incensed at Ramsay's depredations, Grey with Lord Dacre
led a force of men-at-arms, to give chase to the Scots and to recover their stolen gear and livestock.
, Ramsay,knowing where they were abandoned the livestock, and rode north to inform the Earls of Grey's imminent arrival. Grey left the cattle to be collected later, pursued Ramsay, and led his men directly into the trap. Douglas and March's main force then cut off any chance of Grey's retreat, by moving theeir men between them and the Border. As soon as Grey saw the Banners of March and Douglas, chivalric honour forebade him to escape, and battle was joined. The Englishmen rushed the Scots but soon the superior Scottish numbers began to tell. The Scots won the day and took many prisoners, including Dacre, Grey, and his newly knighted son Sir Thomas Grey
, and losing very few of their own, excepting John Haliburton of Dirleton
.
counter-attacked and laid siege to Berwick. Unable to take the Castle March ordered a massacre of English civilians in the town at set it ablaze. The Scots retreated following news af a large army advancing under Edward III of England
, who then proceeded into Scotland and laid waste to Lothian, in a episode that would be remembered as the Burnt Candlemas.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
and the Kingdom of England
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
.
Background
Hostilities broke out in early 1355, following the end of a truce, and breakdown of negotiations for the release of David IIDavid II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
from English captivity. The English pre-emptively raided into Scotland, and burnt the lands of Patrick V, Earl of March.
Raid at Norham
The Earl in retaliation, with William, Lord of DouglasWilliam Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas
William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas was a Scottish magnate.-Early Life:William Douglas was the son of Sir Archibald Douglas and Beatrice Lindsay, and nephew of "Sir James the Good", Robert the Bruce's trusted deputy...
, with their contingents, supplemented by a force of sixty French knights marched to the Merse
Merse
Merse may refer to:*The Merse , in the Italian region of Tuscany*The Val di Merse, an area including the valley of the river Merse* the Merse , a territory located on the on the boundaries of Scotland and England on the east side; today part of Berwickshire* A Scottish name for Salt marsh, an...
in August. Douglas sent Sir William Ramsay of Dalhousie, and a force of men to despoliate and raid the country around Norham Castle
Norham Castle
Norham Castle is a partly ruined castle in Northumberland, England, overlooking the River Tweed, on the border between England and Scotland. It is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument...
, captained by Sir Thomas Grey of Heaton. Douglas' ploy was to encourage Grey into an ambush.
Ramsay called on Grey and his garrison to come out of the castle and fight them. Grey's suspicious of other marauding Scots forces sent scouts to look for evidence of them, but kept behind the stout walls of the castle. Ramsay's men burnt the village, and drove off the chattels and beasts. The scouts returned with nothing to report and incensed at Ramsay's depredations, Grey with Lord Dacre
William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre
William Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre was an English peer. In the final months of his life he was also 3rd Baron Multon of Gilsland...
led a force of men-at-arms, to give chase to the Scots and to recover their stolen gear and livestock.
Battle
March and Douglas meanwhile had hidden themselves in woods to the south of DunsDuns
Duns is the county town of the historic county of Berwickshire, within the Scottish Borders.-Early history:Duns law, the original site of the town of Duns, has the remains of an Iron Age hillfort at its summit...
, Ramsay,knowing where they were abandoned the livestock, and rode north to inform the Earls of Grey's imminent arrival. Grey left the cattle to be collected later, pursued Ramsay, and led his men directly into the trap. Douglas and March's main force then cut off any chance of Grey's retreat, by moving theeir men between them and the Border. As soon as Grey saw the Banners of March and Douglas, chivalric honour forebade him to escape, and battle was joined. The Englishmen rushed the Scots but soon the superior Scottish numbers began to tell. The Scots won the day and took many prisoners, including Dacre, Grey, and his newly knighted son Sir Thomas Grey
Thomas Grey (chronicler)
Sir Thomas Grey of Heton , Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, was an English chronicler.-Family:He was a son of the Sir Thomas de Grey of Heaton , who was taken prisoner by the Scots at Bannockburn, and his wife Agnes Sir Thomas Grey of Heton (near Norham), Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland,...
, and losing very few of their own, excepting John Haliburton of Dirleton
Dirleton Castle
Dirleton Castle is a medieval fortress in the village of Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland. It lies around west of North Berwick, and around east of Edinburgh...
.
Aftermath
The important English prisoners were taken away into captivity, whereas most of the common soldiery were bought by one of the French knights, and massacred in revenge for the death of his father by the English, giving rise to a local landmark known as "Slaughter Hill". The garrison at Berwick on hearing of the fight marched on Norham expecting it to be under siege. March, Douglas and Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of AngusThomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus
Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus was a medieval Scottish nobleman.He was the son of John Stewart of Bonkyll and Margaret de Abernethy. Stewart was an infant when his father died and inherited his estates and titles in Berwickshire, Abernethy and Angus.In 1353 he married Margaret Sinclair, a...
counter-attacked and laid siege to Berwick. Unable to take the Castle March ordered a massacre of English civilians in the town at set it ablaze. The Scots retreated following news af a large army advancing under Edward III of England
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
, who then proceeded into Scotland and laid waste to Lothian, in a episode that would be remembered as the Burnt Candlemas.
Sources
- Fordun, John ofJohn of FordunJohn of Fordun was a Scottish chronicler. It is generally stated that he was born at Fordoun, Mearns. It is certain that he was a secular priest, and that he composed his history in the latter part of the 14th century; and it is probable that he was a chaplain in the St Machar's Cathedral of...
, Chronica Gentis ScotorumChronica Gentis ScotorumThe Chronica Gentis Scotorum or Chronicles of the Scottish People was the first substantial work of Scottish history. It was written by the priest John of Fordun, starting in 1363 until his death in 1385....
, ed. SkeneWilliam Forbes SkeneWilliam Forbes Skene , Scottish historian and antiquary, was the second son of Sir Walter Scott's friend, James Skene , of Rubislaw, near Aberdeen....
. Edinburgh 1872. http://www.archive.org/stream/johannisdefordun02ford#page/n3/mode/2up - Fraser, Sir WilliamWilliam Fraser (historian)Sir William Fraser, KCB, was a solicitor and notable expert in ancient Scottish history, palaeography, and genealogy....
, The Douglas Book IV vols. Edinburgh 1885. http://www.archive.org/stream/douglasbook01fras#page/n5/mode/2up - Maxwell, Sir Herbert. A History of the House of Douglas II. Freemantle. London, 1902